Agda Pkt 2025.12.22 Joint SA PFA

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Page 5 of 7 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org Amending the Municipal Code to require structures within SFHAs to have their lowest floor elevated to base flood elevation plus one foot creates consistency between recommendations by FEMA and NFIP, requirements by CCR 24, and the Municipal Code. ___________________________ 1 In this instance, freeboard is the vertical distance between the highest expected water surface elevation and the finished floor elevation, serving as a safety buffer to mitigate flood waters entering the structure. EQUITY IMPACT The proposed amendments to Municipal Code Chapters 18, 27A, 30, and 41 support the City’s vision of being a community where people of all backgrounds and income levels can thrive by improving environmental protections, aligning development standards with state and federal best practices, and clarifying land use requirements. Updates to stormwater and floodplain regulations will increase long- term resilience against climate-related risks, particularly benefiting vulnerable communities, such as renters, seniors, and low-income households, who are less likely to recover quickly from flood damage. Updates to lot split standards for wide lots aim to increase housing flexibility while preserving emergency access, which may support modest infill development without compromising safety. However, it is anticipated that not all residents will equally benefit in the short term, as property owners with greater financial means are more likely to pursue development options enabled by lot design flexibility. Because these updates are largely mandated by state and federal law or reflect recommended best practices (e.g., FEMA floodplain standards, CCR Title 24), the City has limited discretion. Still, local implementation is guided by an intent to increase clarity, fairness, and resilience. To mitigate potential disparities, the City will ensure transparent permitting processes and track data on housing or development policy changes to capture any disproportionate impact any specific demographic groups or geographies within the City. Staff also anticipate property owners will provide community feedback on the new submittal requirements for development near watercourses as they submit permit applications. The Engineering and Transportation and Community Development Departments will log feedback to determine if further public communications or Municipal Code changes are warranted. Staff will monitor these metrics over time and recommend adjustments to policy or outreach where gaps are identified. FISCAL IMPACT Adoption of this ordinance will not have a net impact the General Fund. Proposed changes to Chapter 27A will require additional staff time to review the newly required documents. These reviews will be paid by the applicant through a deposit-based account as specified in the Master Fee Schedule. No net impact to the General Fund is expected due to this additional staff time. Proposed changes to Chapter 30 are anticipated to create an increase in the number of urban lot split applications. The review of these applications will be paid by the applicant through a deposit-based 8.P. - Page 5 of 24 724